Rockies’ Iannetta looking like a new man at the plate

Maybe it’s the hair. Or the fu Manchu. Or the eight-pound weight loss.

Or maybe it’s just Chris Iannetta playing up to his capabilities.

Iannetta, who has wasted multiple opportunities to become the Rockiesr’ everyday catcher in years past, is determined not to let it happen again. He literally and figuratively looks like a new man.

Iannetta has a head full of hair after going with the clean-shaven look last year. But it’s his bat that’s catching people’s attention.

Iannetta has three hits in two games: a double to left-center, a single to center and a double down the right-field line. Isn’t that the definition of hitting instructor Carney Lansford’s use-the-entire-field mantra?

“I would say,” said Iannetta. “Just keep doing it. I’m not trying to do anything but hit the ball up the middle. I’m just telling myself to go play. Be ready to play and whatever happens happens. I’m not worried about anything but winning and helping the guy on the mound do it.

“I know I can hit. So just go do it.”

An interesting scene played out in the fourth inning tonight. Iannetta, the Rockies’ No. 8 hitter, walked to the plate with two outs and Jose Lopez on second in a tight game. Naturally, the D-Backs walked him to get to Jorge De La Rosa.

Or not.

Arizona manager Kirk Gibson chose to pitch to Iannetta and the move backfired when Iannetta drove a Daniel Hudson pitch down the right-field line for a run-scoring double.

Iannetta, when asked if he were surprised by Gibson’s decision: “I hit .197 last year. A lot of pitchers hit better than me. It was a situation where I was up there seeing if they were going to pitch to me. The first pitch was a strike, so here we go. It’s fine. Keep it coming.”

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.